From PBS: 'The Carpenters Complete Singles'

[rick]

From The Second Disc blog --


PBS To Offer "The Carpenters Complete Singles" collection

[moon]

I really disagree with the assessment of Richard Carpenters arrangements and orchestrations which I thought were overproduced and schmaltzy and totally overwhelmed Karen Carpenters lovely voice.  But what do I know,they sold million s of records!

[Belle]

I love Karen Carpenter. My sister and I wore out her records back in the day. We sang along, trying our best to achieve her smooth alto sound, note for note.

I have already converted those records to mp3's, and still listen to them regularly.

[Pete]

I'm a big fan of the Carpenters, I only became a fan of them early last year actually, I have so many artists that I'm listening to and working through their albums can be difficult when they have such a large back catalogue. I like Karen singing 'Desperado' but it doesn't come close to Linda's version. I would recommend (to anyone who hasn't heard it) Karen singing 'Solitaire' - absolutely brilliant, she's sings every low note perfect and slowly builds to a powerful chorus which really shows what a great voice she had, more so than most other songs.

[Goldie]

This was the one that did it for me. I had never cared for the original by the Beatles and when I heard this I couldn't get over it being the same song.



Here is Linda using a similar arrangement:



Andy Williams was prophetic at the end.

Karen and Richard were such compliments to each other musically but the whole thing ended so badly. Can't imagine my college years without them.

[Goldie]

Here is Karen passing the baton over (so to speak) to Linda Ronstadt who held it for quite a while:



Look at the great women singers nominated. What a year that was!

[Goldie]

[Goldie]

Look who is sitting behind the Carpenters at 2:28. Talk about synchronicity! (this is pt. 2 of their story)

[Goldie]

It appears Linda went straight from the Andy Williams show to the Grammy's lol...